Last week we saw a momentous celebration of an incredible collaboration. #TeamSeas has surpassed the goal of removing 30 million pounds of trash from our ocean. This global, groundbreaking partnership removed more than 34 million pounds, leaving our beaches and ocean cleaner for the people and animals who rely on them.   Like everyone at Ocean Conservancy, I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments of #TeamSeas. The primary mission that brought us together was urgent: Raise $30 million dollars to remove 30 million pounds of plastics and other trash from our ocean, rivers and b ..read more

The name “gummy squirrel” seems more fitting for a dangerously delicious confection dreamt up by Willy Wonka, but you may be surprised to learn it is actually a sea cucumber found in the deep ocean. While its name is inspired by its resemblance to gummy candy, to me, this weirdo looks a bit more like a banana-shaped Runt that didn’t pass quality control. Sweet looks aside, this sea cucumber is a fascinating creature only found hidden in the deep ocean.  Love ocean content? Enter your email and never miss an update Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or ..read more

I’m honored to announce the winners of Ocean Conservancy’s 2024 Photo Contest. This year we received hundreds of beautiful, inspiring and heartbreaking photo submissions. And I’m so grateful for every photographer who sent in their images and the record-breaking number of voters like you who helped pick our category winners. This year, we decided to let the Ocean Conservancy team get in on the fun, too. While you and our expert panel of judges were voting for your favorites, so were our staff. Without further ado, I present your 2024 Ocean Conservancy Photo Contest winners! Staff Choice Winner ..read more

This blog is best read with musical accompaniment. May we suggest, Barracuda by Heart? You’ll be glad you listened while you read. The great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, has a reputation for being fast, aggressive and a fish you should avoid. Their sharp teeth and speed make them especially good predators. Let’s dive in and learn more about the great barracuda. Never miss an update Enter your email and never miss an update Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763 Enter Your Email ...loading Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails ..read more

This blog was co-written by Natalia De Prisco. Natalia is an 11th grade student in Doral, Florida, who participated in Plastic Free Cities during the Fall 2023 semester. She aspires to pursue a career in business, speaks four languages and is passionate about ways to prevent plastic from entering our ocean. Plastic Free Cities is an Ocean Conservancy initiative in collaboration with partners in South Florida, Debris Free Oceans and Big Blue & You, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Now in its second year, Plastic Free Cities empowers high school students ..read more

“Sea pickles,” “sea worms,” “fire bodies”— these are just a few of the wacky nicknames for one of our ocean’s most mysterious creatures: pyrosomes. Pyrosomes (Family Pyrosomatidae) may look like bizarre jellyfish at first glance, but these quirky critters are uniquely beautiful and play an important role in our ocean’s ecosystems and food web. Name The name “pyrosome” comes from the Greek words for fire (pyro) and body (soma). As you might guess, pyrosomes are bioluminescent, meaning they emit light. They produce a light—which is typically green or pink—in response to touch and ..read more

With more than 90% of global trade moving by ocean transport, maritime shipping is a major driver of the world economy. However, shipping has a serious pollution problem that threatens our climate, communities and the marine environment. If we are to avert climate catastrophe, the shipping sector must immediately begin to eliminate the 1 billion-plus metric tons of greenhouse gases it emits every year. In response, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)—the United Nations body that governs global shipping—passed a new strategy to eliminate the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions in July 2 ..read more

This blog was co-written by Vincent Leggett, the Admiral of the Chesapeake and founder and president of Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, and Deedee Strum, the chief administrative officer of Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, in collaboration with Ocean Conservancy. The Chesapeake Bay is a thriving region of diverse ecosystems and communities. Home to charismatic species such as the horseshoe crab, blue crab and the osprey, this bay is the largest estuary in the United States and third largest in the world. The Chesapeake watershed spans six states and Washington, D.C, and is recognized ..read more

We are officially within the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season here in the United States, and just a couple weeks ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its forecast for this year’s season. The outlook will blow you away. NOAA, which houses the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, predicts there is an 85% chance the 2024 season will be “above normal,” thanks to near-record-high ocean temperatures and the onset of La Niña. This dire forecast has serious implications for communities living in hurricane-prone areas like Florida. Neve ..read more

Many beachgoers are familiar with the rolling, sandy landscape created by coastal dunes. But do you know about all the animals that inhabit the dunes?  Let’s review some facts about dunes and dive into some of their most famous residents.  Never miss an update Enter your email and never miss an update Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763 Enter Your Email ...loading Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. What are dunes?  Coastal sand dunes are mounds of sand along the beach. Dunes form when wind moves sand in ..read more